New to this year’s report is N.R Spuntech Industries, an Israeli-based manufacturer of spunlace nonwovens with a U.S. operation in Roxboro, NC. Spuntech’s sales have been increasing steadily since opening its U.S. plant in 2006 and from their annual reports sales were approximately $90 million last year.

Founded in 1996, owned by Nissan Medical, Spuntech is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange . The company has three production facilities and four lines—two in the Galilee, Israel, one in Shamir, Israel and a brand-new site in Roxboro, NC.

The majority of this output targets the hygiene, wet wipes and medical markets where the company works closely with its customers to understand their specific needs and requirements. “We focus on high end products for different markets,” according to director of sales and marketing John Rank. “We are not looking at making just plain vanilla spunlace. We want to provide our customers with innovative products that give them an added advantage in the marketplace.”

Spuntech's spunlace fabrics are comprised of cotton, viscose, polyester, polypropylene or any blend of these fibers, including 100% cotton, 100% viscose or 100% polyester. Fabric-texture options include apertured and a variety of hydro embossed patterns. Spuntech is capable of reaching an extraordinary fabric tensile strength ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:3 MD-CD.

Most of its U.S. output feeds the North and South American markets while Israel primarily serves its local market, Europe and in developing markets such as Russia. “There is room for growth in both regions,” Mr. Rank said. “We are running steady but we are always looking to improve our product mix and bring on new, innovative items.”

Sales received a nice boost in 2009 for Israeli spunlace producer Spuntech Industries. The company, which was profiled last year for the first time in Nonwovens Industry’s top companies report, reported sales increased about 15% from $90 million to $104 million on growth in specialty engineered and value-added spunlace fabrics as well as growth in the company’s global capacity.
This growth is a continuation of a trend achieved yearly since the company opened its U.S. plant in 2006. In addition to a one-line plant in Roxboro, NC, Spuntech operates three lines—two in Galilee and one in Shamir—in Israel. It was founded in 1996 and is owned by Nissan Medical.
“Spuntech operates three state-of-the-art production facilities with a total of four production lines using sophisticated equipment with proprietary capabilities,” said John Rank, director of sales and marketing. “The company’s highly skilled engineers and technological staff, supported by a professional team of marketing, logistics, quality control and management personnel, have the ability to mass produce a variety of unique added-value products in accordance with stringent quality control guidelines, while meticulously adhering to delivery dates.”
Currently, Spuntech’s sales are split between North America, Europe and Asia where it serves wet and dry wipes, medical, technical and engineered fabrics markets. Describing spunlaced nonwovens as the fabric of choice for most of its customers, Mr. Rank reported that demand remained strong for high quality spunlaced nonwovens throughout 2009. “The market activity has been better than the global economy,” he said. “Threat of swine flu contributed to the overall market demand.”

Despite challenging market conditions, N.R. Spuntech sales continued to grow in 2011. The company, which was profiled three years ago for the first time in Nonwovens Industry’s top company report, reported sales for 2011 of 432 million shekels, or $113 million, versus 397 million shekels in 2010. Spuntech continues its focus on growth in specialty engineered and value-added spunlace fabrics with more emphasis on sustainable products.

In 2011, Spuntech secured several sizable contracts with large branded customers for products going into the automotive, personal care and home care disposable markets. This has allowed Spuntech to continue its organic growth and maximize capacities worldwide.

“We are proud of our accomplishment in making the U.S. operation a success over the past few years,” says John Rank, director of sales and marketing. “We are also proud of the additions to our capabilities in Israel that provides a more uniform and better performance product.”

Currently, Spuntech’s sales are split between North America, South America, Europe and Asia, where it serves wet and dry wipes, medical, technical, filtration and engineered fabrics markets. Spuntech continues to review opportunities in emerging markets to further its global expansion. Describing spunlace nonwovens as the fabric of choice for most of its customers, Rank reports that demand remained strong for high quality spunlace nonwovens throughout 2011. Spuntech lines run at maximum capacity globally.

In 2013, Israel’s Spuntech Industries reaffirmed its commitment to the nonwovens industry through a decision to add another spunlace line in the U.S. In May, the company said it would double its North American capacity with the addition of a new spunlace line at a yet-to-be-announced U.S. location. The new line is on track to begin production in 2015. Spuntech currently operates one spunlace line at a facility in Roxboro, NC, which opened in 2006, and runs two lines at a site in Galilee, Israel and another in Shamir, Israel.

In 2012, the company reported positive results, with sales increasing from $113 million to $127 million, according to director of sales and marketing John Rank. “Spuntech had a successful 2012 and results were good. We expect improvement in 2013,” he says.

Spuntech continues its focus on growth in specialty engineered and value-added spunlace fabrics with more emphasis on sustainable products. While a high percentage of its sales, both from its U.S. operation and its Israeli site, are conducted in the wipes segment, the company has successfully been developing new products outside of wipes.

Currently, Spuntech’s sales are split between North America, South America, Europe and Asia, where it serves wet and dry wipes, medical, technical, filtration and engineered fabrics markets. Spuntech continues to review opportunities in emerging markets to further its global expansion.

In 2013, Israel’s Spuntech Industries reaffirmed its commitment to the nonwovens industry through a decision to add another spunlace line in the U.S. In May, the company said it would double its North American capacity with the addition of a new spunlace line at a yet-to-be-announced U.S. location. The new line is on track to begin production in 2015.

Spuntech currently operates one spunlace line at a facility in Roxboro, NC, which opened in 2006, and runs two lines at a site in Galilee, Israel and another in Shamir, Israel.

In recent years, sales have increased steadily as the company continues to focus on growth in specialty engineered and value-added spunlace products, and growth is expected to speed up once the new line comes onstream.

While a high percentage of its sales, both from its U.S. operation and its Israeli site, are conducted in the wipes segment, the company has successfully been developing new products outside of wipes. Currently, Spuntech’s sales are split between North America, South America, Europe and Asia, where it serves wet and dry wipes, medical, technical, filtration and engineered fabrics markets. Spuntech continues to review opportunities in emerging markets to further its global expansion.